ACE launches training programmes in clinical research

EHM News Bureau - Mumbai

The ‘Academy for Clinical Excellence’ (ACE), the first of its kind in the country was inaugurated last week at Mumbai to offer training programs in good clinical practices, clinical research methodology, data management and biostatistics. The Academy is situated on the campus of Bombay College of Pharmacy at Kalina in Mumbai.

In an effort to make a significant contribution towards the development of clinical research culture in India, Pfizer had tied up with the Bombay College of Pharmacy in February 2002. Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has recently joined ACE as a partner.

The first program of the Academy organized on 18, 19 Oct 2002 was on Fundamentals of Clinical Research and Good Clinical Practices. The program had an overwhelming response from academia and industry. Professionals in the clinical research field and other important delegates attended the formal inauguration.

Dr Vasantha Muthuswamy, deputy director general, ICMR, was present at the occasion and she stressed the necessity for such teaching institutions in the country.

Dr Arun Nanivadekar, ex Medical Director, Pfizer spoke about nurturing clinical research in India and Dr Nadeem Rais while addressing the gathering on ‘‘Impact of GCP Trials on Clinical Practice’’ highlighted the lacunae that exist in our current “system” and suggested ways to alleviate the shortcomings that the country faces in the field of clinical research education.

ACE is conceptualized to be a not-for-profit pioneering clinical research training academy as a one-stop shop for training needs of clinical research professionals. It will be broad-based, and open to involvement of other organizations. Areas of education and training will be clinical research methodology, clinical research regulations and environment, clinical research administration and applied clinical research.

For details contact the director, ACE at Bombay College of Pharmacy at 611 8017., e-mail : acebcp@yahoo.com

Dr Madhukar B Dhonde was one among the numerous doctors and surgeons who rushed to Gujarat in January 2001 to provide medical help to thousands of earthquake affected people. He was from Khar in Mumbai and seventy one years of age.

At a function in Mumbai last fortnight, his book ‘‘At seventy one, ten nights in the graveyard’’ was released at the hands of Shri Ram Jethmalani. Another book, a biography of Dr Dhonde written by Smt Tara Fadnis in Marathi entitled ‘‘Khare taich sangin’’was also released at the same function.

This book gives a reality account of the grit and determination of Dr Dhonde who has been wedded to social service and upliftment of the underpriveleged in society for the past over 45 years. Both the books are distributed by Granthali.

Apart from Prof Sadanand Varde and Mrinal Gore who graced the function and shared their personal experiences about this doctor friend of their’s, the entire gathering of over 150 intellectuals and professionals congratulated Dr Dhonde and wished him ‘‘jiveth sharadh shatam’’ for the ‘‘nishkama karma’’ this simple and unassuming ‘‘doctor’’ has been rendering for almost five decades now.